About Master’s Program,
The Helen Zell Writers’ Program is a two-year, fully-funded graduate program in creative writing leading to the Master of Fine Arts degree. During their two years of coursework, students concentrate in either fiction or poetry. Students come to the Helen Zell Writers’ Program in preparation for a lifetime of writing, professional publication and artistic growth. At the heart of the program are the writing workshops, where students assemble as a community of writers to generously read and rigorously discuss their works in progress. For more detailed information about the program itself, please feel free to explore the Program Overview section of this site.
Applicants must submit portfolios of their writing in one of these genres, and should have sufficient training in literature to succeed in courses at the graduate level. We select students with demonstrated talent and expose them to a variety of approaches to the craft of writing. For more information, please see our step-by-step instructions on How To Apply.
If you have further questions about the program and/or your application process, please also take a moment to read over our Frequently Asked Questions before reaching out directly. While we deeply appreciate your interest, due to the sheer volume of inquiries we receive it is difficult for our office to reply directly to individual questions in a timely fashion.
Master’s Program Degree Eligibility with GPA,
Applicants will not be able to apply to both poetry and prose; applicants must choose one genre. Applicants must have a Baccalaureate degree by the time of expected enrollment. Although the degree need not be with a concentration in English, the applicant should demonstrate sufficient skill in undergraduate language and literature courses to enable him or her to enroll in graduate English literature courses. We do not accept Non-Candidate for Degree status applicants to our program. We do not offer online courses. The Helen Zell Writers’ Program is a full-time full-residency program.
The GRE is not required for MFA applicants.
Master’s Funding Coverage,
In the first year, all MFA students accepted into the program are offered a full tuition waiver, a stipend of $25,980 (currently for ’23-’24), as well as $6,000 in summer funding, and health care benefits. Applicants may also be considered, where appropriate, for Rackham Merit Fellowships.
Second year support includes a complete tuition waiver, stipend of $25,980 (currently for 2023-2024), and health care benefits through a Graduate Student Instructorship. GSIs teach one undergraduate course per semester, usually a section each of English 125 (Introduction to College Writing) and English 223 (Introduction to Creative Writing). GSI training and mentoring for English 125 and 223 is administered by the English Department Writing Program (EDWP).
Additionally, various fellowships and prizes are awarded each year to MFA students.
Application Requirement,
Transcripts
TOEFL
IELTS
Writing Sample
Academic Statement of Purpose
Biographical Personal Statement
A curriculum vitae/resume
Three letters of recommendation
Immunizations for International Students
Application Deadline,
Dec 15, 2025
Application Fee,
The application fee for United States citizens and those with permanent resident visa status is $75. The fee for non-U.S. citizens is $90. The application fee for current Rackham students, regardless of citizenship, is $10. This fee is non-refundable and subject to change.
